Creeper



An object of this invention is to provide a STATES eATENT OFFICE CREEPER Ellis Smith,

Application November 4 Claims.

creeper with a comfortable head-rest which can easily be adjusted with minute gradations to various positions.

Another object is" to provide a creeper which is light in Weight, easily portable, strong and durable, simple in operation and of inexpensive construction both as regards materials and assembly operations.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the novel creeper with the head-rest in elevated position;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the head-rest lowered to horizontal position;

Figure 3 is a plan view with the head-rest lowered as in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a partial view of the underside of the head-rest and adjacent body part;

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown for purpose of disclosure, the body portion is preferably formed of a plurality of slats 6 arranged in substantially parallel spaced relation. The foot end portions of the slats are transversely apertured to receive a cross-rod I. Sleeves 8 are placed upon the rod 1, in assembly, and hold the slats in spaced relation when the terminal nuts [0 are tightened. The two adjacent slats at each side of the creeper are connectedtogether by a metallic plate 9 secured to such side slats by the screws II.

These plates provide the mounting for the swiveled castors [2 as is well known in the art.

The head end of the creeperis somewhat different in construction and assembly. A relatively narrow reinforcing strip l3 extends transversely of the head end portions of the body slats to which the strip is attached by the screws l 4 as shown in Figure 4.

This head end is also prohead-rest.

There are here shown five such head- Schroeder, Minn.

8,1937, Serial No. 173,415

(Cl. 28(l61.5)

rest bars although the number thereof may be varied. The head-rest l9 extends across the outer end portions of these bars l8 and is preferably cushioned as suggested in the drawing.

These bars are apertured adjacent their inner ends to receive the cross-rod l6 and the body slats ii, tWo sleeves 8 and interposed bars 18 are held in the assembled position shown in section in Figure 5.

An important feature of this novel creeper resides in the fact that the head-rest may be retained in a plurality of finely varied operative positions when the mechanic reclines upon the creeper with his head upon the rest. These adjustments are maintained by frictional resistance 1 to torque without the necessity of ratchets, rack bars or gears, etc.

The width and depth of the bars it of the head rest are such that their side faces are closely held against the opposed vertical side faces of the slats 6. Adjustment or variance of such frictional engagement may be varied by tightening or loosening the nuts I! at each end of the crossrod at this head end. Obviously, lessened area of engagement of the side faces of the slats '6 and bars It occurs as the head-rest is elevated. For example, in the position shown in. full lines in Figure 1, a considerable portion of the side faces of the bars I8 below the pivotal cross-rod are out of engagement with the adjacent side faces of the slats. In order to provide additional frictional engagement areas for such lowered portions of the bars 18, there are provided two frictional blocks 2| on the bottom of two of the body slats. The width of each block is the same as that '35 of the slats and each may be secured against the slat under face by a screw 22. The perimeter of the frictional area of the depending side faces of these blocks may be substantially arcuate but it is more economical to provide the angled form .40 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When the head-rest is elevated, the opposed side faces of two pairs of the bars l8 engage frictionally both the adjacent portions of certain of the body slats and, additionally, the depending side faces of the friction blocks 2|.

It will be observed that, as the headrest is: moved from the full line position in. Figure 1 to its dotted line position, and beyond, the outer end portions of the headrest bars l8 pass within the spaces between the slats 6. Preferably the total distance between the opposite and outermost Working faces of the slats is less at the head end of the creeper than at the foot end. In other Words, the slat spaces at the head end are tapered, 66

being less at the head end. In one commercial form of these creepers this distance is approximately one-fourth of an inch less at the head end, the comparative measurements being made across the slats at the foot end and across the strip l3 at the head end. This slight tapering of the body slats increases the frictional engagement of the bars l8 as they approach the horizontal.

In use, the mechanic can readily adjust the head-rest IE! to the angular position desired by pushing or pulling the outer end of the head-rest, i. e., at the portion farthest from its pivotal mounting thereby attaining a greater leverage.

So far as concerns materials, the slats and bars may be of metal, but it is suggested that strong wood can economically be employed as it is plentiful and inexpensive in the forms and shapes here used and readily provides the frictional resistances desired.

While the construction and arrangement of the improved creeper as herein described and claimed is that of a generally preferred form, obvious modifications and changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A creeper comprising a plurality of spaced slats, a head-rest, a plurality of slats affixed to the head-rest thereto at their outer ends, the inner end portions of said head-rest slats being positioned between said creeper slats, a crossmember extending through said creeper slats, each head-rest slat being pivotally mounted upon said cross-member and being of such width that each head-rest slat is frictionally held against pivotal movement whereby the head-rest may be frictionally held in a plurality of adjusted positions.

2. A creeper comprising a plurality of spaced slats forming a body-rest, means extending transversely of the slats and adapted to hold the slats in assembled spaced relation, aheadrest, a plurality of bars attached at their outer ends to the head-rest and pivotally mounted adjacent their inner ends on said transverse means, each head-rest bar extending between a pair of adjacent slats and being of a width to engage frictionally each of the opposed side faces of its adjacent slat-pair whereby the head-rest may be frictionally held in a plurality of adjustably fixed positions, and means to increase the pressure of the side faces of the slats against the engaged side faces of the head-rest bars whereby to increase frictional resistance to pivotal movement of the head-rest when in use.

3. A creeper comprising a plurality of spaced slats forming a body-rest, means extending transversely of the slats and adapted to hold the slats in assembled spaced relation, a head-rest, a plu rality of bars attached at their outer ends to the head-rest and pivotally mounted adjacent their inner ends on said transverse means, each headrest bar extending between a pair of adjacent slats and being of a width to engage frictionally each of the opposed side faces of its adjacent slat-pair whereby the head-rest may be frictionally held in a plurality of adjustably fixed positions, and means carried by the body slats and extending therebelow and adapted to engage frictionally the adjacent faces of certain headrest bars at their inner portions extending below said pivotal mounting when the head-rest is elevated whereby to provide additional frictional resistance to pivotal movement of the head-rest when so elevated.

4. A creeper comprising a plurality of spaced slats forming a body-rest, means extending transversely of the slats and adapted to hold the slats in assembled spaced relation, a head-rest, a plurality of bars attached to their outer ends to the head-rest and pivotally mounted adjacent their inner ends on said transverse means, each head-rest bar extending between a pair of adjacent slats and being of a width to engage frictionally each of the opposed side faces of its adjacent slat-pair whereby the head-rest may be frictionally held in a plurality of adjustably fixed positions, and means affixed to certain of the body slats adjacent said pivotal mounting to increase the frictionally effective height of said slats at their side faces whereby additional frictional engagement of the side faces of adjacent slats and bars is provided when the head-rest is elevated.

ELLIS C. SMITH. 

